BRADFORD Council insists it is working as fast as possible to end the current city centre disruption amid criticism over "diabolical" traffic chaos and confusing changes to bus services.
The Council said it understood people's frustration - but stated that the Cycling and Walking Improvements would create a "much nicer and easier place for people to spend time."
While the relocation of a number of bus stops was always planned, the Council pointed out that the "unexpected closure" of the Interchange meant extra temporary bus stops had to be provided "extremely quickly" on street, while the "unforeseen" storm damage to Vicar Lane further added to the challenges.
New routes and bus stop locations were introduced on Sunday, April 14 as the city centre pedestrianisation took shape.
But the move caused confusion, with many bus users labelling the system an "absolute shambles".
Bradford Interchange has been shut for months, with no news of it reopening on the horizon, while the latest issue arose when severe flooding hit the city on Bank Holiday Monday.
Vicar Lane was at the epicentre of this and the uphill lane, including the bus stop there, is “closed until further notice”.
The new road was cracked in parts and some spots had also lifted, when The T&A visited the area this morning.
Joanne Little, who gets the bus to Leeds every day for her job as a Senior Residential Practitioner for Leeds City Council, described the situation as “diabolical”.
She said buses that would normally use the uphill lane and stop on Vicar Lane are now having to turn right down Well Street – which has now been fully opened as a road after many years of being pedestrianised.
Ms Little, who was stood waiting for a bus on the opposite side of the closed lane when the T&A spoke to her, said: “It’s really hard because it’s always cramped to here and the bus stop down there.
“Most buses there’s not enough space, and people barging past, it doesn’t feel safe.”
The downhill bus stop is in a temporary state currently, situated on a narrow path, with metal fencing behind blocking the grassed area there.
A flood of buses, sometimes three at a time, were seen stopping there at various intervals – letting people off and on the services - and the pathway was regularly full with people.
Rebecca Dickinson lives near Five Lane Ends and was waiting at the downhill stop on Vicar Lane to get either the 612, 613, or 614 bus back home after her work at a school in Bradford.
She is happy with her experience so far and said she “knows where I’m going” but sympathises with other people and admits there are some issues.
Ms Dickinson added: “It’s just a bit crazy, a bit narrow, a lot are going onto the road and stuff – the elderly and people with disabilities.
“Sometimes you see buses drive past and not stop and people have to wait.”
First Bus announced last week that it would be increasing the frequency of its X6 and 72 services between Bradford and Leeds from Sunday, May 19.
A spokesperson for First Bus said last Thursday: “We are also introducing timetable adjustments across in the city network to help customers with connectivity and better punctuality.
"With these changes, First Bus aims to mitigate some of the challenges caused by important ongoing infrastructure works and the closure of Bradford Interchange.
“We are constantly monitoring capacity on routes and working closely with our partners in the council and the combined authority while bus stop repositioning is in place during the completion of road improvements.
"Where possible, we will consider further enhancement to services within the resources we have available.”
A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We understand people’s frustration at the disruption in the city centre.
"Once the works have been complete the city centre will be a much nicer and easier place for people to spend time.
"We are working as fast as we can so that people can benefit from these improvements sooner.
“Unfortunately, whilst the relocation of a number of bus stops within the city centre was always planned for under our city centre improvement scheme, the unexpected closure of the Interchange, meant that in addition to the planned moves a number of temporary bus stops had to be provided extremely quickly on street.
“This led to a significant increase in the number of people catching buses from on-street stops which is inevitably causing issues for bus users, specifically at the points closest to the interchange (Vicar Lane, Bridge Street and Nelson Street).
“Since the initial switch from the Interchange we have been working closely with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to open up areas of the network for better temporary stops as quickly as possible, allowing the passenger experience to be improved by creating more space for passengers waiting for buses, as well as providing space for buses to operate more efficiently.
“The unforeseen damage caused by the once in 150 years flooding at Vicar Lane, has further added to the challenges, but we are working as fast as we can with contractors Balfour Beatty and Yorkshire Water to make repairs so that we can reopen the uphill section of Vicar Lane as quickly as possible.
“We continue to work closely with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and bus operators to help mitigate passenger delays and help alleviate the pressure at particularly busy areas that are now more congested due to the closure of the bus station."
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